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When the Czech Republic's international football team reached the semi-finals of the European Championships in Portugal last year they won admirers around the globe. Indeed, the country now stands at second in the world rankings. Reflecting the Czech Republic's status as a "world power", the Czech Football Association is about to become involved in an international aid project for the first time - linking up with a Kenyan NGO. A couple of representatives of the organization are currently in Prague setting up the project. I spoke to one of them,

In about a year's time, drivers in the Czech Republic could face much stricter road controls and new traffic regulations. After a two year battle, the Transport Ministry has managed to push through a proposal to introduce a points system. If approved by the Senate and signed by the President, it could come into effect on July 1, 2006.

Earlier this week the British pop legend Elton John entertained thousands of fans with a concert in Prague. But it was not his first concert here. He sang in the Czech capital way back in 1984 in the days of deepest communism. Back than the concert organizers were most disturbed when he put his legs up on the piano. At the time the western performers only rarely played behind the iron curtain.

There was great excitement when it was announced that the fifth in the blockbuster Harry Potter film series - the Order of the Phoenix - was going to be filmed here in Prague. But there have been reports this week that the parents of Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the main role, don't want him to film in the Czech capital. The reason: the city's reputation as a seedy centre of the international sex industry.

The National Gallery in Prague boasts a new exhibit in its Collection of Old Masters, although new is not quite the word. On the contrary the ceiling canvas "Phaeton Begging the Chariot of Apollo" dates back to the beginning of the 18th century, and has been in the Gallery's possession for many years. But the work was damaged and for almost a hundred years was hidden from visitors. Now it has been painstakingly restored and since Tuesday has been on show in the National Gallery's Sternberg Palace.

Shortly after its launch on Tuesday evening, the world's first solar-sail-powered spacecraft, Cosmos 1, fell silent. But its command stations around the world, including one in the Czech Republic, haven't given up, and have continued trying to pick up some signal from the missing craft.

Many Czech dancers left the country in the 90s. After a few years abroad they are now slowly coming back home with new ideas, inspiration and experiences. Czech dance is catching up with the rest of the world bringing together theatre, movement and dance. Some of this can be enjoyed at the Tanec Praha festival, currently under way in Prague.

The Czech papers are full of the latest of a string of embarrassing incidents involving the police. The Czech multi-millionaire Radovan Krejcir who is accused of a huge customs fraud, involving plans to murder a customs official, managed to escape from police custody, when they were searching his huge and luxurious villa outside Prague. He escaped through a window after the police let him use the toilet. Was it a case of police incompetence or could it have been corruption?

Many fans of world music will already be familiar with the work of Vera Bila - one of the Czech Republic's finest Romany singers - who regularly tours major venues around the world: classic concerts have included Paris, New York, and Singapore. Now, Bila - and her group Kale - have released a new album. It has the French title "c'est comme ca" - "that's how it is" and from the first notes there is no mistaking the deep and earthy voice that made this Gypsy diva known worldwide.

The acrimonious collapse of European Union budget talks in Brussels on Friday night is being variously interpreted as a disaster and an opportunity for the union. It revealed the depth of divisions between countries, but it was also the first time that the ten new members were out in force.